Motor-vehicle.



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No. 758,137. :PATENTED APR. 26, 1904.

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- MOTOR BHIQLE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 21. 1901.- BEHBWED SEPT. 10, 1903.

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7 UNITED "STATES I Patented April 26, 1904.

PATENT OF I E.

BOHN CHOPIN HICKS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CENTER DRIVE AUTOMOBILE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPO- RATION or soUTH DAKOTA.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 758,137, dated April 26, 1904.

Application filed October 21, 1901. Renewed Septembei 10, 1903. Serial No. 172614. (No model.)

To all whom it Ina/y concern.-

Be it known that I, Bonn Cnornv HIcKs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvement-sin Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of vein the outer supporting-wheels, all of which will more fully hereinafter appear.

- The principal object of the invention is to make a simple, economical, and efficient motor-vehicle and provide it with a running-gear frame having substantially positive lateral and longitudinal connections with the supporting-axles, while at the same time permitting the independent vertical movement of each of the wheels and alsoindependent vertical movement between that portion of the frame which directly supports the motor mechanism and that which directly supports the box or body portion.

The invention consists in the features, combinations, and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved running-gear;-

Fig. 2, an enlarged sectional elevation of a portion of the mechanism, taken on line 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3, a similar view, taken. on line 3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 4:, an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the mechanism, partly in section and taken on line I of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 5, a side elevation of a bracket, and Fig. 6-an enlarged sectional dctail taken on line 6 of Fig. 1.

In the art to which this invention relates,

and particularly in that class of vehicles in which electricity is used as the motive fluid and which is provided with a body portion or box so mounted as to have vertical movements independent of the storage-battery supporting portion and driving-wheel and with the driving-wheel adapted to have vertical movements independent of the supporting-wheels, it is well known that the frame connections and the. connections between the frame and the respective axles which are adapted to permit these vertical movements have not had the desired lateral and longitudinal rigidity of frame and gear connections.

One of the principal objects of my invention, therefore, is to overcome the abovenamed objections and provide a running-gear dinal rigidity, while at the same time permit: ting the vertical movements of the parts.

In constructing a vehicle in accordance with my improvements I make what I term a rigid-main frame a, which is preferably U-shaped and provided at its rear end with a nonrotatable spindle Z), rigidly connected thereto and forming a part thereof. Upon this non-rotatable spindle is rotatably mounted a main drive-Wheel 0, preferably at the center and rear end of the frame, as shown in Fig. 1. A rod 61 and hollow tube 6 are arranged transversely of the frame, the rod being forward and the hollow tube rearward of the center thereof and rigidly attached thereto. described rod and tube at each-side ofthe frame, and a platform 9 is mounted thereon. A rigid frame is thus produced which is adapted to support a motor it inoperativeposition thereon and also support the storage batteries and connecting mechanisms (not shown) necessary to the operation of the motor, all of which may be of any ordinary and well-known type. sprocket-wheel t' is Springs f are suspended from the aboveframe having the desired lateral and longitumounted upon the hub of the driving-wheel and a chain 1' is provided, arranged to encircle such sprocket and operatively connect it with the main driving-sprocket 7c of the motor.

It is desirable that a positive lateral and longitudinal connection be formed between the main frame and the front axle Z, while at the same time permitting independent Vertical movement of both ends of such axle and, further, that positive lateral and longitudinal connections be made between the sides of the main frame and the ends of the respective axles. The expression unyielding lateral and longitudinal connections and the express1on positive lateral and longitudinal connections as used in the specification and claims are intended to mean a connection which is substantially unyielding or positive as to forward and backward movement -that is, longitudinal of the main frame and substantially unyielding as to sidewise movementthat is, laterally or transversely of the main frame. In order to accomplish the purposes which these connections or elements are intended to accomplish, the main frame is pivotally mounted at its front end upon the axle Z by means of a horizontal pivot 8 on the center of the front end of the frame, which pivot extends into a socket m in the axle. Lugs are provided upon each side of the main frame, and links 0 are pivotally mounted thereon and each pivotally connected at its opposite front end with a pair oflugs p upon the respective ends of the front axle. The front axle is then provided with steering-gear mechanism, which may be of any ordinary and well known pivoted-spindle type and which it is not, therefore, deemed necessary to here describe. It will be readily apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that by pivotally mounting the front axle on a horizontal pivot which extends longitudinally of the frame and mounting wheel-supporting spindles q upon perpendicular pivots 1' at each end of the front axle and rotatably mounting supporting and steering wheels .9 upon such spindles in the ordinary and well-known manner the above-described frame and connecting mechanisms afford rigid lateral and longitudinal connections between the motor-s upporting portion of the frame and the front axle and its supporting-wheels and at the same time permits independent vertical movement between the ends of the front axle and the sides of the frame.

To provide positive transverse connection between the drivingwheel-that is to say, connections that are substantially positive in so far as movement transversely of the frame is concernedand the rear supporting-wheels and permit the independent vertical movement of each of such wheels and also to pro-' vide positive connections laterally and longitudinally of the frame between the rear supporting-wheels, the drive-wheel, and the frame and permit the independent vertical movement of the box-supporting portion of the main frame and motor-supporting portion thereof, I provide what may be termed a two-part axle 2., which is pivotally mounted upon the main frame in bearings 10 and adapted to extend through such bearings into the hollow tube 6 and rearward from the point of pivotal connection with the frame to the point of connection with .the rear supporting-wheels 01,

Which is preferably in line laterally with the center of the driving-wheel. The rear supporting-wheels o are rotatably mounted upon spindles w, which extend outward transversely of the frame from the rear ends of the twopart axle. A substantially positive lateral and longitudinal connection is thus formed between the rear supporting-wheels and the main frame.

In order to. increase the rigidity of the connections transversely of the frame and permit the easy independent vertical movement of the parts, a pair of upwardly and downwardly extending arms y is provided at each of the rearward ends of the two-part axle, and a pair of inward transversely-extendinglugszis provided upon the extreme ends of each pair of arms, forming a bracket 9. Both the top and bottom lugs of each bracket have a perforation therein adapted to admit a vertical rod 3. The extreme rearward end of the main frame is also provided with outward trans versely-extending lugs 4 at each side in line with the driving-wheel spindle and the inwardly-extending brackets upon the two-part axle. These lugs are also each provided at their extreme outward ends with a perforation (not shown) adapted to receive the vertical rod 3 and beheld thereby within the bracket, and thus slidably connected with the two-part axle, as shown in Fig. 2. A rigid transverse connection is also thus formed between the Vertically-swinging ends of the rear axle and the main frame. This arrangement also permits the independent Vertical movement of the rear end of the main frame and the rear supporting-wheels. In order to form a yielding connection between the rear axle and the end of the main frame, spiral springs 5 are mounted within the brackets upon the vertical rods 3 above and below the lugs 4 of the main frame, thus minimizing the jolting coincident with'the verticalaction of the parts.

To provide means for supporting the box or body portion of the vehicle independently of the motor-carrying portion, clips 6 are mounted upon the rearward extending portions of the rear axle and preferably at the center of the front axle, and suitable springs 7 are'mounted therein in any ordinary and well-known manner, and a box or body portion (not shown) is arranged to rest thereon. It will thus be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the springs for supporting the body portion or box need be of only in the claims and specification relate to the.

frame unless otherwise specified.

I claim 1. In a vehicle of the class described, the combination of a mainframe, a front and rear axle,both pivotal] y mounted in the main frame and means for forming a substantially positive lateral and longitudinal connection between the main frame and the front and rear axles while permitting independent vertical movements of the main frame and the outer ends of the axles, substantially as described.

2,. Ina vehicle of the class described, the combination of a main frame, a front and a rear axle, both pivotally mounted in the main frame, means for forming a substantially positive lateral and longitudinal connection between the main frame and the ends of the front and rear axles while permitting independent vertical movements of the main frame and the outer ends of the axles, and means for yieldingly connecting the rear axle to the main frame back of the pivotal connections with such frame and permitting each end of the rear axle to move vertically independently of the other, substantially as described.

3. In a vehicle of the class described, the combination of a main frame, a non-rotatable spindle at the rear end of such frame rigidly attached thereto and forming a part thereof, a drive-wheel rotatably mounted upon such spindle, afront and a rear axle, outer supporting-wheels upon such axles, and means for forming a fixed lateral and transverse connection between the main frame and the ends of the front and rear axles While permitting independent vertical movement of the drivewheel and outer supporting-wheels, substantially as described.

l. In a vehicle of the class described, the combination ofa main frame, a front and a rear axle, means for forming a fixed lateral and transverse connection between the main frame and the ends of the axles while permitting independent vertical movements of the main frame and the outer ends of the axles, and means attached to the outer portions of the rear axle and to the front axle for supporting the box thereon, substantially as described.

5. In a vehicle of the class described, the

combination of a'main frame, a non-rotatable spindle at the rear end thereof rigidly attached thereto and forming a part of such frame, a driving-wheel rotatably mounted upon such spindle, means for supporting the drivingwheel actuating mechanism upon such main frame, a front axle, a tVVOrPPLI'l'i'I'GflI' axle 'piv-' otally secured to the main frame, means for forming a fixed lateral and transverse connectlon between the main frame and the ends of the front and rear axles, and means at tached 'to the axles forlsupporting the box thereon, substantially as described.

6. In a vehicle of the class described, the combination of a main frame, a drive-Wheel rotatably mounted within such frame, a front and a rear axle, outer supporting-wheels upon such axles, means for holding the frame and the outer ends of the axles in fixed lateral and transverse relation to each other while permittingindependent vertical movements of the'drive-wheel and outersupporting wheels, substantially as. described. i

7. In a vehicle of the class described, the combination of a main frame, a drive-Wheel rotatably mounted in such frame, a front axle, a two-part rear axle, an upright inwardlyextending bracket upon each of .the' extreme rearward ends of the two-part axle, lugs upon the rear end of the main frame extending within such brackets, and means for slidably connecting the lugs and brackets, substantially as described.

8. In a vehicle of the classdescribed, the combination of a main frame, a drive-wheel rotatably mounted in such frame, a front axle,

a two-part rear axle, an upright inwardlyvided with a horizontally-extending socket,

and a horizontal pivot-pin on the front portion of the main frame adapted'to extend into and be held in position by such socket, substantially as described.

10. In a vehicle of the class described, the

combination of a main frame, a front axle,

provided with a horizontal socket, a laterallyextending pivot-pin on the front portion of the main frame adapted to extend into and be held in position by such socket, and link mechanism at each end of the front axle connecting it with the main frame, substantiallyas described 11. In a vehicle of the class described, the

combination of a main frame, a non-rotatable spindle at the rear end thereof and rigidly attached thereto, a driving-wheel rotatably mounted upon such spindle, outward transversely-extending lugs upon the main frame, a two-part rearaxle pivotally attached to the main frame provided with upright inwardlyextending brackets adjacent to the lugs on the main frame, a perpendicular rod arranged Within each bracket and extending through the lugs on the main frame, and spring mechanism arranged between the lugs on the main frame and the brackets, substantially as dedescribed.

12. In a vehicle of the class described, the combination of a main frame, a front axle, front and rear supporting-Wheels, a drivewheel mounted at the rear end of the main frame between the rear supporting-wheels, and a rear axle pivotally mounted in and extending across the main frame forward of the drive-Wheel and having rearwardly-extending endportions upon which the rear supporting wheels are mounted, substantially as described,

-. 18. In a vehicle of the class described, the

combination of a main frame, a front axle,

front and rear supporting-Wheels, a drive- .wheel mounted at the rear end of the main frame between the rear supporting-Wheels, a two-part rear axle pivotally mounted in the main frame forward of the center of the rear supporting-wheels and having rearwardly-extending end portions upon which such rear supporting-wheels are mounted, and means for connecting the rearwardly-extend in g portions of such axle to the main frame back of the pivotal connections with such frame, sub

stantially as described.

14. In a vehicle of the class described, the combination of a main frame, a front axle, front and rear supporting-Wheels, a drivewheel mounted in the rear end of the. main frame between the rear supporting-wheels, a two-part rear axle pivotally mounted in the main frame forwardof the center of the rear supporting-Wheels and having rearwardly-extending end portions upon which such rear supporting-wheels are mounted, and means for forming a yielding connection between the rearwardly-extending portions of the axle and the main frame back of the pivotal connections with such frame, substantially as described.

15. In a vehicle of the class described, the combination of a main frame, a front axle pivotally mounted thereon, front and rear supporting-wheels, a drive-wheel mounted at the rear end of the main frame between the rear supporting wheels, a rear axle pivotally mounted in the main frame forward of the center of the drive-wheel and having rearwardly-extending end portions upon which the rear supporting-wheels are mounted, and means for forming a yielding connection between the rearwardly-extending portions of the axle and the main frame back of the pivotal connections with such frame, substantially as described.

BOHN CHOPIN HICKS.

Witnesses:

THOMAS FRANoIs SHERIDEN, ANNIE C. COURTENAY. 

